Storms Rise in Lingshu Heaven Domain (3)

During the time Shen Yuxi was recuperating from his injuries, True Person Yu Qing deliberately arranged for him to stay on Misty Spirit Peak.

This decision was not merely to tend carefully to his injured disciple. More importantly, he desperately wished to seize this chance to observe at close range exactly what miraculous powers the mysterious Heaven-Peeking Treasure had brought forth within Shen Yuxi.

Ever since Shen Yuxi returned wounded, True Person Yu Qing had devoted his whole heart to his disciple. His caution and concentration made it seem as though Shen Yuxi were some priceless treasure that might shatter and vanish if he let his guard down for even a moment.

For the first few days, Misty Spirit Peak was tranquil and peaceful, and time itself seemed to have quietly slowed its flowing steps.

True Person Yu Qing often caught the thoughts Shen Yuxi let slip without meaning to.

At times, Shen Yuxi muttered complaints about how dull and tedious recuperation was, his words filled with helpless frustration at his restricted movements. At other times, he sank into deep reflections on past experiences, his thoughts like a small boat drifting along the river of years.

In True Person Yu Qing's eyes, these thoughts were merely a natural release of emotions that had built up within his disciple because his physical movements had been so severely limited while recovering.

Like a breeze brushing across a still lake, they stirred a few ripples but could never raise towering waves. Though this differed greatly from his disciple's usual image, it was nothing more than ordinary emotional expression.

He truly could not understand why Heaven-Peeking Treasure had chosen Shen Yuxi, nor had he discovered any tangible benefit the treasure had bestowed upon him.

Until that day—

At the third quarter of the hour of the dragon, sunlight shone clear and bright, slanting through the carved lattice window of the side room and stretching Shen Yuxi's shadow long and straight.

He sat quietly in a blackwood round-backed chair beneath the eastern window, his posture upright and proper. His wide azure sleeves draped naturally, like a silent stream flowing on without a ripple.

He held a long scroll in his hands, his gaze calm. If someone had looked from afar through the thin bamboo curtain, they would surely have assumed that the sect leader's second disciple was immersed in quiet contemplation of the Dao.

Yet only Shen Yuxi himself knew that reading through this obscure and incomprehensible tome was merely his attempt to divert his attention and forget the pain surging through his body like the tide.

It was like people reading English textbooks at midnight not to memorize vocabulary, but simply for a quick sleep aid—the old man's true intention lay not in the wine.

Clearly, his attempt had failed. Though his expression remained unchanged on the surface, pains of varying severity clung to every part of his body like a shadow, leaving him unable to take in a single word. Beneath that indifferent exterior, he had long since cursed that Demonic Cultivator's ancestors for nine generations.

When his ninth junior brother, Wen Jian, leapt from the back of an immortal crane carrying a food box and landed steadily upon the stone steps outside Clear Parasol Hall, Shen Yuxi was discreetly leaning back against the cushion to ease his bodily discomfort.

The faint pain beneath his ribs was like a dull blade, slowly grinding between his organs with every breath. It was not sharp, yet it continued without end, winding around him like threads and making itself impossible to ignore. It left him unable to focus at all, so much so that he had not even noticed his junior brother's arrival.

Fortunately, when the immortal crane spread its wings and flew away, its ringing cry tore through the sky, finally alerting Shen Yuxi to the visitor. He hastily straightened himself as if nothing had happened.

Wen Jian raised a hand and neatly adjusted the clothes that had become slightly disordered during the ride. Once he was properly arranged, he headed straight for the side room beside the main hall without a second thought.

While he was still some distance away, he spotted that the side room's door stood wide open.

Out of respect for his senior brother, he did not barge in rashly. Instead, he raised his hand and knocked twice upon the doorframe, producing two crisp, rhythmic knocks. At the same time, he raised his voice slightly and called, "Second Senior Brother?"

"Enter."

Having received permission, the youth stepped inside.

The side room was not large, and its furnishings were simple and elegant. A few strands of sunlight filtered through the carved window lattice and spilled onto the floor in threads, weaving together mottled patches of light and shadow.

His gaze casually swept over the untouched breakfast on the table, and his brows could not help but furrow slightly.

He gently set the black food box on the table. When it touched the surface, it gave a faint, crisp sound.

The box did not contain any mouthwatering delicacies, but injury medicine that he had meticulously concocted and refined.

The moment he entered the room, he saw Shen Yuxi seated amid floating motes of light and dust, engrossed in reading a scroll. Concerned, Wen Jian could not help sighing inwardly. As expected of the most diligent second senior brother in the sect.

Looking at the completely untouched meal, Wen Jian shook his head again. Shen Yuxi had long since abstained from grain, so this breakfast was naturally no ordinary food.

Upon closer inspection, he indeed found several exceedingly rare medicinal herbs within it that replenished qi and nourished the spirit. Their distinctive patterns and colors plainly showed how extraordinary they were.

After a moment's thought, he guessed that this had to be personally made by the sect leader's uncle. The sect leader's uncle had always cared deeply for Second Senior Brother. If anyone else received such a thoughtful meal, they would probably be overcome with gratitude and wish they could swallow the bowl along with its contents.

Yet Shen Yuxi remained unmoved by this meal brimming with affection. It was not that Second Senior Brother had grown arrogant from favor; only Wen Jian understood the true reason.

Though Second Senior Brother usually looked cold as frost and kept others a thousand miles away, he was actually terribly delicate deep down. He feared both pain and bitterness. It was a little-known secret. Everyone else had been deceived by his stern exterior, but it could not be hidden from Wen Jian, who had treated every wound, great and small, on him.

The strong medicinal smell of this medicated meal must have made him dread its bitter taste, which was why he had kept it to one side without touching his chopsticks.

Wen Jian gave a helpless soft laugh, then gently lifted the lid of the food box. In an instant, a faint and elegant medicinal fragrance slowly spread through the room.

Several white jade bottles with lustrous bodies were arranged neatly inside. The patterns on them had been carved with exquisite detail, making their exceptional value obvious at a glance.

In one corner of the food box rested a small, delicate jade pot. A gentle warm glow suffused its body, and it was warm to the touch. Clearly, it had only just been brewed.

Then, unhurriedly, he took a packet of candied fruit from his sleeve, already warmed against his body. The preserved fruits were brightly colored, plump and round, their surfaces coated in a thin layer of sugar frost that glittered crystalline beneath the morning sun. Their sweet fragrance wafted through the air, enticing the appetite.

"I brought spiritual medicine to dispel demonic qi, as well as newly prepared injury medicine." Wen Jian lifted his eyes and looked gently at Shen Yuxi. "They are quite effective in restoring spiritual power and healing internal injuries."

Only then did Shen Yuxi set down his scroll. He nodded slightly in thanks. "Much obliged."

After a few pleasantries, Wen Jian moved to the window. The smile on his face gradually faded, replaced by concern.

Shen Yuxi's complexion was somewhat pale. His cheeks, usually brimming with spirited vigor, had lost some color, yet he did not possess the sickly air common to those seriously injured.

Unable to hold back, Wen Jian asked, "Second Senior Brother, how do your injuries feel? Is your spiritual power still circulating smoothly?"

Shen Yuxi's expression was as tranquil as still water, and he gave only a brief reply. "No matter."

His voice was not loud, but it carried a certainty that reassured others, as though whatever he said was an indisputable fact.

Still unconvinced, Wen Jian crouched beside Shen Yuxi. He first lightly placed his fingers upon Shen Yuxi's wrist and carefully took his pulse, focusing entirely on the subtle changes in the pulse. At times his brows creased slightly; at others, he nodded faintly.

After taking his pulse, he drew an exquisite little cloth pouch from his robes. Once opened, twelve golden needles lay neatly spread across a brocade handkerchief.

The muscles beneath Shen Yuxi's sleeve tightened faintly, though his face remained composed. The way he extended his left wrist resembled a swordsman offering a salute; even the curve of his protruding wrist bone carried an air of cold nobility.

Wen Jian's fingertips paused when they touched his pulse gate—this man even deliberately maintained his body temperature at precisely the right degree of cool warmth.

After a thorough examination, Wen Jian finally confirmed that Shen Yuxi was indeed not seriously harmed. Only then did he release Shen Yuxi's hand in relief, letting out a long breath as the tension in his face finally eased.

Shen Yuxi took in every tiny change in Wen Jian's expression and found it secretly amusing. True Person Yu Qing had already carefully examined his spiritual veins. Though the spiritual power within him was somewhat disordered, there was no real cause for concern, so Shen Yuxi was not worried about his condition in the slightest.

Still, he had always known his ninth junior brother's temperament. If he did not allow Wen Jian to take his pulse personally, the boy would never settle down. He might even move the entire medicine hut and pill furnace into Clear Parasol Hall sooner or later, so Shen Yuxi simply let him fuss.

Speaking of Ninth Junior Brother Wen Jian, he was quite an interesting fellow.

On the surface, he acted indifferent toward everything, as if nothing beneath heaven and earth deserved to enter his eyes. In truth, he was a complete money-grubber in private. Whenever he saw rare spiritual materials or magical treasures, his eyes immediately lit up like luminous pearls, and he wished he could sweep them all into his possession.

At the same time, he cared deeply for his fellow disciples. His sharp tongue made people wish they could sew it shut, yet when he acted, his hands were gentler and more cautious than those of an embroidery girl. He was the very image of someone with a hard mouth and a soft heart.

To put it bluntly, he was a hopeless tsundere.

A few days ago, when he heard that Shen Yuxi had been injured while fighting a Demonic Cultivator, he became as anxious as if his heart were on fire and could neither sit nor stand still.

Even though True Person Yu Qing had confirmed that no demonic qi remained in Shen Yuxi's body, had already administered treatment, and had rejected Wen Jian's request to use medicinal materials from the sect treasury, Wen Jian still could not set his mind at ease.

For several nights in a row, he used spells to force-grow a spiritual herb especially effective at dispelling demonic qi. He insisted on brewing the medicine himself and would only feel reassured after watching his senior brother drink it. As soon as he had refined the medicine, he hurriedly delivered it here.

At heart, Wen Jian was a bundle of contradictions.

On one hand, he was absurdly obsessed with wealth. On the other, he was fiercely protective of his own senior and junior brothers. He also had a touch of obsessive perfectionism; if something failed to meet his standards, he would never let it go. He even had a bit of persecution paranoia, forever worrying that those around him would encounter every possible mishap outside.

He truly made people both fond of him and helpless before him.

Just as Shen Yuxi was secretly laughing, a gentle breeze drifted past, making the thin bamboo curtain rustle softly, as if whispering something under its breath.

Several scattered bits of grass and tiny flowers behind Wen Jian's ear swayed gently in the breeze, haloed in circles of rouge-colored light beneath the sun.

If one looked closely, one would discover delicate golden-thread patterns running across the rice-grain-sized vermilion petals. They were the companion flowers of Vermilion Bird Bloodvine, the most difficult herb to cultivate in the Demon-Expelling Pill formula—Falling Star Flowers.

Though these dainty little blossoms looked inconspicuous, they were an indispensable rare ingredient in refining pills that expelled demonic qi.

Having confirmed that his senior brother was unharmed, Wen Jian's suspended heart had only just fallen when a voice suddenly rang beside his ear: Ah, Ninth Junior Brother must have refined the pills immediately after force-growing the spiritual herbs and rushed them here. He did not even notice the Falling Star Flowers on his head. Should I remind him—

Wen Jian froze at the sound and instinctively lifted his head toward Shen Yuxi. Sure enough, Second Senior Brother was staring without blinking at his hair. Alarmed, Wen Jian thought, What? There are leaves stuck in my hair? Why did no one tell me?

Then an even more bewildered thought rose in his mind. Come to think of it, this is the first time I have heard Second Senior Brother say so much in one breath... No, did Second Senior Brother even open his mouth just now?

His eyes brimmed with confusion as he stared blankly at Shen Yuxi, trying to find an answer on the other's face.

Shen Yuxi had no idea what he was thinking and instead examined his junior brother before him. Wen Jian wore a gray outer robe today, paired with an old yellow-gray inner garment. The muted colors made his whole person appear gentle and composed.

A strand of ten copper coins hung at his waist, chiming softly with his movements. A few exquisite hidden patterns appeared and disappeared at the hems, lending several unusual touches to the understated attire.

The two unexpected dots of vermilion flowers in his hair were like vivid cinnabar upon a dark painting. Their brilliant color made his originally refined features seem a little more radiant.

Under Shen Yuxi's gaze, Wen Jian inexplicably became a little embarrassed. He tilted his head slightly and looked toward Shen Yuxi in the chair.

Shen Yuxi's raven-feather lashes trembled lightly, like butterfly wings about to take flight. His eyes held their eternal indifference, while his finely shaped thin lips were pressed into a straight line, carrying his habitual coolness.

But in the next instant, a teasing voice unexpectedly sounded by Wen Jian's ear: Still, Ninth Junior Brother looks rather gorgeous wearing red. No wonder when he went with Third Junior Brother to Sunset Glow Village to train and capture the Ghost Bridegroom, Third Junior Brother ignored the ready-made girls and insisted that Ninth Junior Brother dress as a woman instead.

"What the hell? Who dressed as a woman?"

Wen Jian instantly stood frozen on the spot, his mind seeming to have suddenly been stuffed with a tangled mass of thread. For a moment, he could not make sense of it at all.

The medicinal fragrance curled through the side room, but the familiar scent of herbs could not soothe Wen Jian's suddenly panicked mind.

Wen Jian instinctively clenched the white jade medicine bottle in his hand, his knuckles turning faintly white from the force. He stared straight at Shen Yuxi's face, disbelief filling his eyes, while his throat seemed suddenly caught by something, tightening fiercely.

In that instant just now, he had clearly seen that Second Senior Brother's lips had not moved at all, yet a crisp voice like clear spring water striking stone had truly sounded beside his ear. It was so clear that it felt as though Second Senior Brother had whispered directly to him.

He stood there in shock, his feet seemingly nailed to the floor, unable to move even an inch. This utterly unreasonable situation left even him, usually calm and self-possessed, unable to keep his footing.

True Person Yu Qing, who had been secretly watching the events here, saw Wen Jian's stunned appearance with perfect clarity. His heart suddenly gave a jolt, and he inwardly cried that things were bad. Without time to think further, he immediately circulated his spiritual power in secret, his joined sword fingers glowing faintly.

Almost at that very moment, the jade token hanging from Wen Jian's waist flashed twice, giving off a weak yet conspicuous light. Immediately afterward, True Person Yu Qing's slightly urgent voice sounded clearly from the token. "Qingyu, come to the rear hall at once."

Though the voice had been transmitted through the jade token, it remained clear and audible, carrying an authority that allowed no questioning.

Wen Jian, still lost in shock and confusion, was abruptly jolted out of his thoughts by the unexpected voice. He first stared blankly, then came back to himself and realized that the sect leader's uncle had summoned him.

He hurriedly smoothed his clothes and looked toward Shen Yuxi. "The sect leader's uncle has called for me. Second Senior Brother, I'll go first." A trace of panic that had not fully dissipated still lingered in his voice.

Shen Yuxi nodded faintly, his expression calm. "All right." As he watched Wen Jian's hurriedly departing back, a trace of confusion rose in his heart, but he did not dwell on it. He assumed only that the sect had some important matter for Ninth Junior Brother to handle.

As Wen Jian hurried toward the rear hall, he could not stop muttering inwardly about the inconceivable incident from before. His steps were slightly disordered. What exactly had been going on with Second Senior Brother's voice, which had entered his ears so clearly?

Before long, Wen Jian arrived at the rear hall. The moment he saw True Person Yu Qing, his heart suddenly lurched.

True Person Yu Qing's expression was incomparably grave. His face, usually as kind and amiable as the warm sun of spring, now seemed covered by a thick layer of frost. The chill it exuded was piercing enough to make one shudder.

His gaze in particular was sharp and majestic, as if it could pierce straight through people's hearts. The unquestionable force contained within it made Wen Jian instinctively feel awed. He did not dare be negligent in the least and quickly lowered his head in an extremely respectful salute.

Without revealing anything, True Person Yu Qing examined Wen Jian, then tested the waters by asking about Shen Yuxi's condition. Wen Jian promptly replied, "In response to Sect Leader's Uncle, Second Senior Brother is well in every respect."

True Person Yu Qing feigned relief and then pressed further. "Then did you notice anything unusual?" Wen Jian's heart tangled, his eyes flickering. After hesitating for a long while, he finally gritted his teeth and voiced the doubt within him.

Upon hearing this, True Person Yu Qing frowned deeply, and a flicker of worry passed through his eyes. If this matter leaked, not only his beloved disciple but even the entire Profound Heaven Sect could face enormous trouble.

After pondering briefly, he decided to conceal the matter of Heaven-Peeking Treasure and only said vaguely, "Qingming happened upon a fortuitous encounter this time. His thoughts leaking aloud was also an accident."

Having spoken, he leaned forward slightly toward Wen Jian and instructed him in a low but solemn voice, "This matter is of grave importance. Its consequences reach far beyond anything you can imagine. You must not tell anyone else, not even a single word. And you must not let Qingming learn that his thoughts can be heard.

"If even the slightest rumor escapes and provokes others' criticism, it may ruin Qingming's cultivation. Do you understand?"

Seeing True Person Yu Qing react this way, Wen Jian guessed that there had to be more to the matter. Recalling everything that had just happened, he vaguely realized that Second Senior Brother's every movement was likely under the sect leader's uncle's close surveillance.

At once, he nodded repeatedly and said with a serious expression, "This disciple understands. This disciple will certainly keep his mouth sealed like a bottle and will not reveal a single word to anyone."

Nine Domains Encyclopedia:

○ [Lingshu Heaven Domain]

Located at the very center of the Nine Domains, it possessed diverse terrain. With the Profound Heaven Sect at its head, numerous sects and cultivation clans gathered here like stars encircling the moon.

Legend held that tens of thousands of years ago, a great battle erupted where the Heavenly Domain now stood, and several mighty powers fell as a result. When one whale fell, all things came to life; the spiritual bodies of those great powers transformed into dense spiritual qi, nourishing the Heavenly Domain of today.

The spiritual qi here was so dense it resembled tangible mist, present everywhere. Even cultivators entering for the first time could feel its threads of coolness. It was an ideal place for cultivation.

The sects interacted frequently. At times, they joined hands to explore ancient ruins; at others, they competed in secret for rare spiritual plants, cultivation techniques, and secret manuals.

It was the domain among the Nine Domains that suppressed Ghost Cultivators and Demonic Cultivators most severely.

Every ten years, Lingshu Heaven Domain held the "Hundred Sects Tournament." Though called a tournament, it was in truth a premier grand feast of the cultivation world encompassing such events as cultivation assemblies and magical treasure exchanges.

During the grand ceremony, cultivators of the younger generation displayed the fruits of their cultivation, while the major sects brought out treasured magical artifacts for trade and sale.

The "Hundred Sects Tournament" was hosted in rotation by the major sects. In recent centuries, large sects from outside domains had also joined, and it had gradually become a grand event for the entire cultivation world.

Major powers: Profound Heaven Sect, Clearwave Dao Abode